EU Lists Iran’s Guard as Terrorists: Key Details

The European Union has agreed to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, a move that escalates pressure on Tehran over its violent crackdown on protesters and its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The decision required unanimous support from the EU’s 27 member countries, and followed recent shifts in position from France, Italy, and Spain.

EU Designates Revolutionary Guard as Terrorist Organization

The listing of the Revolutionary Guard, a major branch of Iran’s armed forces with tens of thousands of personnel, comes in response to reports of brutal repression against protesters in dozens of Iranian cities. Demonstrators have voiced dissatisfaction with the clerical regime in Tehran.

France dropped its opposition to the terror listing on Wednesday, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stating that the “unwavering courage of the Iranians” must not be in vain and announcing European sanctions against those responsible for the violence. Italy and Spain also switched their positions, citing the brutality of the crackdown, according to statements shared with POLITICO.

Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel said recent footage from Tehran documenting the crackdown had crossed “a big line” for EU countries. The exact number of those killed remains difficult to confirm due to an internet blackout, but estimates start around 6,000 and could be much higher.

The U.S. designated the Revolutionary Guard as a foreign terrorist organization in 2019 and has repeatedly urged the EU to follow suit. U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that “time is running out” for the Iranian regime and that a “massive Armada” was “moving quickly” toward the country.

Gabriel Gavin, Zoya Sheftalovich and Tim Ross contributed reporting.